Catherine Stack, ND, CNM

Of all the food allergies in the US, dairy affects the largest number of people with the most acute symptoms. From colicky babies (a breastfeeding mom passes on her sensitivities) to ear infections and tonsillitis, to bloating and chronic sinusitis, dairy allergies affect the lives of millions. Many people, especially children, are needlessly placed on many rounds of antibiotics for symptoms of dairy allergies. How many people do you know that are "lactose intolerant"? I bet you know more than a few. I also know that the majority of people who suspect they may have a red flag warning of a dairy allergy will continue to avoid their body's warning signals. Some will even take or drink lactaid in order to continue consuming something that their body does not want. Chronic sinus conditions along with bloating, gas, diarrhea, and even constipation become normal and frequent complaints that are tolerated by the individual with a dairy intolerance. Because we have been brain...

As spring approaches and we open our windows to let the fresh air in, many of us begin to think about spring-cleaning. Now, anyone who knows me is probably laughing, as I was not born with the gift of keeping a pristine house. Cleaning is not one of my favorite pastimes and never will be. I do however, love a clean, clutter-free space and try and do my best. With asthma and allergies becoming common and almost expected ailments within the household, one needs to not only look at the diet but the environment as well. Our lives are filled with toxic foods, chemicals, pesticides, cosmetics and more. Cleaning up some of these areas will go a long way in preserving your health as well as the health of your family. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the indoor pollution is 100 times greater than outdoor pollution. Many individuals are obsessed with cleaning and bleaching everything in order to make sure their home is safe for children. Your intentions are beautif...

The colonic, also known as "colon hydrotherapy" or "high colonic," is a safe, effective method for cleansing the colon of waste material by repeated, gentle flushing with filtered water that is a comfortable temperature. Through appropriate use of massage, pressure points, reflexology, breathing techniques, suggestion etc., the colon therapist is able to work loose and eliminate far more toxic waste than any other short term technique. I personally cannot imagine life without them. The use of colon hydrotherapy in the treatment of disease can be dated back as far as the mid-1800's. Despite considerable research in the early part of the century documenting its therapeutic effectiveness, it continues to be a highly controversial and often misunderstood form of therapy. In all my studies, interest, and experience in natural health - I have come to know the following; if the colon is not eliminating properly, all the supplements, medications, and therapies in the ...

pH is a scale or balance system. The term pH means "potential of hydrogen." In order to understand pH we have to know what it is measuring: alkalinity and acidity. pH numbers range from 1 to 14 with neutral being 7.0. What is the definition of alkalinity and acidity? Acidity is the concentration of the hydrogen ion. Alkalinity is the concentration of the hydroxyl ion or OH's. So the difference between acidity and alkalinity is oxygen. The body attempts to maintain a pH of 7.4. If the body is not mildly alkaline, it cannot use oxygen efficiently and if it is unable to use oxygen effectively, it produces free oxygen radicals. The pH of your blood varies very little and if it shifts more than a few points, death occurs. Even though your blood must remain at a constant pH to live, your breast or prostate, for example, is willing to sacrifice itself because it is not as critical. There is this elaborate backup defense system that steals buffers in order to keep the blood a...

Nothing will empower you or make you feel better than eating healthy whole foods. Eating according to your blood type has always been a favorite of mine as so many individuals suffer from inflammation and eating for your blood type reduces it dramatically. But there are other eating styles that may be a better option for you. Dr. William Hay is the name most associated with food combining. Although he did not "invent" this way of eating, he is the man most responsible for bringing it to the attention of many when it reversed his own dismal diagnosis of kidney and heart disease back in the early 1900's. He went on to write books on the topic and although there have been a few revisions, many have reaped the benefits. In a nutshell, food combining is rather easy although it conflicts with many of our current eating habits. The two basic fundamentals of food combining are; 1) Eat fruit alone and on an empty stomach and 2) Don't combine proteins with starches at the s...

Fatigue is one of the most common complaints of the population that I see. It may not be the first complaint, but it is almost always on their list. Many individuals suspect thyroid issues, hormone imbalance, illness or even just their stressful life.  These assumptions may be correct but what many fail to consider is adrenal fatigue. You have two adrenal glands located just above each of your kidneys. Each is no bigger than a walnut and weighs less than a grape, yet is responsible for one of the most important functions in your body: Managing stress. Your resiliency, energy, endurance and your very life all depend on their proper functioning. As part of your endocrine system, your adrenal glands secrete more than 50 hormones, many of which are essential for life. It’s estimated that up to 80 percent of adults experience adrenal fatigue during their lifetimes, yet it remains one of the most under-diagnosed illnesses in the United States. Ironically, the adrenal gla...

There is a lot of confusion and controversy when it comes to eating meat.  Is it good for you?  Is it increasing your risk for heart disease?  I don’t blame you for being confused.  I personally love an occasional steak and would hate to think that it is causing harm in my body. Many problems have come about since the American Heart Association stated that people needed to avoid saturated fats if they are to prevent heart disease.  For one, people started eating low fat and fat-free.  If you eat low-fat, most likely you started eating an enormous amount of refined carbohydrates which converts to sugar in the body.  In a nut shell, this low fat lifestyle lead to a tremendous increase in obesity, type II diabetes and even increased your risk for stroke and heat disease.  Fat does not make you fat, sugar makes you fat!  Our cholesterol levels and inflammation markers soared. Fans of the Atkins diet would brag about their weight los...

I am going to give you a few reasons you might want to give up soda, or as Western New Yorker's say, "pop". It would be one of the best decisions you can make in regards to your health. Drinking one 20-ounce bottle of soda is equivalent to pouring 17 teaspoons of sugar down your throat: 250 empty calories that contribute to obesity, osteoporosis, Type II diabetes, reflux, and more. Even one soda (pop) per day increases your risk for obesity by 60%... and don't think you are off the hook by drinking diet soda either. Drinking diet soda is strongly correlated with being obese. Diet soda has 5 calories or fewer per serving, but emerging research seems to suggest that drinking sugary-tasting beverages, even artificially sweetened ones, appears to increase "sweet" cravings in humans. When we consume sweeter cereals, snacks, breads, and desserts, we tend to consume more calories, and eventually put on pounds. A 2005 study, by Sharon P. Fowler and colleagues ...

Living in Western New York is a bit challenging when the long winters lead into a chilly, dreary spring. It is no wonder that our Vitamin D levels are exceptionally low and our cancer rates are exceedingly high. Warm, sunny days are just around the corner and if you are anything like me, you will want to spend every possible minute outside. Will I avoid the sun because I think it causes cancer? Absolutely not! Will I slather my skin with brand named SPF 50? Absolutely never! Believe it or not, growing up near the ocean and spending many summer days on the beach actually decreased my risk for skin cancer. Yes, I do need to protect my sun-deprived skin from burning when I travel to the Caribbean during the winter months. Burning will accelerate the aging process and I do not need or want any help in that department.  During the summer months, sunscreen is only applied if I will be out all day. It is now common knowledge that adequate Vitamin D3 levels protect you ag...

I’ll try to remain politically correct as I explain the benefits and uses of my favorite “have on hand” supplements, colloidal silver. The FDA has not approved its use and in some instances it is illegal to make claims to the benefits of this effective supplement. Long before antibiotics became the gold standard for treating infection, colloidal silver was used as a very effective germicide. It was commonly used in eye preparations, skin diseases and even gonorrhea. Ancient Egyptians are said to have placed water, wine and vinegar in sliver bottles to prevent spoiling.  Even Hippocrates wrote of the healing properties of silver. Silver even gained regulatory approval in the early 1900s as an antimicrobial agent. Currently, silver sulfadiazine cream is a very effective anti-bacterial agent in the treatment of burns and is used in most medical institutions. Many hospitals incorporate the use of wound dressings, catheters and endotracheal tubes that contain silver for ...

We’ve all had it, we are all likely to have it again, but some individuals suffer from it on a continual basis.  Bad breath, otherwise know as halitosis, is estimated to affect up to 50 percent of the population in varying degrees. Bad breath can be caused by a variety conditions. Poor oral hygiene, oral abscesses and gingivitis can harbor odor-inducing bacteria that may cause bad breath. Flossing daily, brushing at least twice daily and eating raw fruits and vegetables can improve this situation. Unfortunately, most people suffering from bad breath have issues that lie far deeper than the oral cavity. A study in the Journal of Medical Microbiology suggests that H. pylori can be an underlying cause of bad breath as well the more common association with stomach ulcers. Another frequent correlation is chronic constipation. Chronically constipated people typically suffer from Candida and or an abundance of unhealthy bacteria in relation to friendly, health-promoting ba...

One of my favorite medicinal plants is the aloe vera plant. Originally from Africa, it is now grown in abundance in Texas, California and Florida. Oklahoma has specially designed greenhouses to grow this health promoting plant, as it does not tolerate freezing temperatures. Historically, Aloe’s medicinal properties date back to an Egyptian document written around B.C.E. 1550.  The document listed twelve formulas containing Aloe to treat both internal and external disorders. More recently it is being looked at for food preservation as researchers in Spain have found it can be used as an edible coating on fruits and vegetables.  This would be extremely beneficial as well as environmentally friendly as most produce is sprayed with synthetic preservatives after harvesting. Researchers dipped grapes into aloe vera gel and successfully stored them for five weeks at low temperature.  The untreated grapes under the same conditions deteriorated within one week. It...

Ancient and recent studies have shown that common, everyday spices have powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Many have been shown to aid as well as prevent diseases ranging from the common cold to devastating and deadly forms of cancer. Spices are different from herbs in that they originate from the plant’s aromatic parts rather than the leaves.  These parts include the bark, root, flower and seed.  Cinnamon would be a great example of bark, ginger of root, saffron of flower, peppercorn of berry and cumin a great example of a healing seed.   Herbs are most potent when fresh, but most spices gain their potency during the drying process, when naturally occurring enzymes are activated. In practice, one of the most beneficial spices has been turmeric.  Turmeric is best known for the colorful and aromatic quality of curry.  Medicinally, it is a powerful anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant.  Studies have ...

For decades, the American Dental Association has advocated the addition of fluoride to drinking water to prevent cavities. Once again, this may have been very misleading information as a highly repeated study, originating in New Zealand, has found there is no difference in tooth decay rates between fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas. As a matter of fact, fluoridation may be causing far more harm than good. Fluoride has been linked to dental fluorosis (discoloration of teeth), hip fractures, bone cancer, lowered intelligence, kidney toxicity and other negative effects. Not one study has supported that long-term use or exposure has any positive effect. Fluoride is known to be a toxic agent.  Twenty-four separate studies have shown that there is an association between fluoride exposure and reduced IQ in children. Proponents of fluoridation have dismissed the fluoride IQ studies on the basis of the claim that these children were drinking water containing much higher...

Many people are not familiar with all the benefits and protective qualities of iodine.  Some have recently become familiar with iodine after the recent Japan earthquake as it protected individuals against nuclear radiation toxicity. My own supplier was backordered for more than a few weeks, they could not keep up with the demand. Iodine, or potassium iodide, is very effective when administered 48 hours before or eight hours after the exposure from a nuclear accident. But iodine is not only protective against radiation exposure; it can prevent high-risk pregnancy, hypothyroidism, fibrocystic breast disease, infections, digestive issues and more. Iodine is a non-metallic trace element that is needed for the normal metabolism of cells.  Humans need iodine for normal thyroid function and for the production of thyroid hormones. Unfortunately, iodine deficiency is prevalent throughout the world. Most people get iodine in their diet from seafood and iodized salt. ...

The use of bentonite clay is a topic I have yet to write about but which frequently comes up in holistic trainings, newsletters and blogs. It is time for me to share. Our bodies are bombarded with toxins coming at us from all directions:  the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, the cleaning products we use and the byproducts of our own cellular waste that builds up inside us. For those who have never heard of bentonite clay or its benefits, read on.   Bentonite clay is medicinal powdered clay that comes from weathered volcanic ash. The names bentonite and montmorillonite are sometimes used interchangeably to refer to edible Calcium Bentonite Clays belonging to the smectite family of clays. Calcium-based clays are referred to as “living clays” as they principally consist of minerals that contribute to the production of enzymes in all living organisms. Bentonite clay is one of the most effective natural intestinal detoxifying agents availa...

Fat, aka adipose tissue, is found in several places in your body — probably more places than you would like.  Besides the fat underneath your skin (subcutaneous fat) there is fat on top of the kidneys, some in the liver and a small amount in the muscle tissue. Fat cells are formed in the third trimester of pregnancy and later at the onset of puberty when sex hormones kick in. Where the fat is distributed depends on the sex of the individuals as hormones come into play. Estrogen dominance in women and men tends to result in abdominal fat. An interesting fact that most are unaware of: Fat cells do not multiply after puberty. A diet that contributes to obesity does not cause fat cells to multiply — they just get bigger (and bigger and bigger). The only exception would be if the individual gained a significant amount of weight or if they had liposuction. As tempting as liposuction may be, one of the most common pitfalls is that once you remove the fat cells from one a...

As the weather beings to improve and the spring fever bug begins to crawl back into our lives, one thing is for sure; allergy sufferers beware, here it comes — the dreaded season of itchy, red eyes, sneezing, post-nasal drip will affect more than 10 million of you in this country. The number of those suffering from seasonal allergies has doubled since 1980. I am curious as to why the numbers continue to rise, as we have not doubled the number of grasses or trees in our environment. More likely it is related to the poor quality of our foods. Eating on the go, frozen meals, diets high in sugar, dairy and wheat are factors I need the reader to consider. Any naturopath will tell you, once you place an individual on the elimination diet, most of the allergy symptoms subside and can even resolve permanently.  The elimination diet removes most common foods and food groups that cause sensitization or reactivity. Dairy and wheat (gluten) are largely responsible for allergi...

Holiday parties, dinners and family get-togethers are likely to be in abundance more than any other time of the year.  You are not alone if your body has, at one time or another suffered the effects of too much alcohol or rich and creamy foods that leave our livers screaming for help.  Milk thistle may help buffer the blow of a lifestyle that can take its toll on your liver. For more than 2,000 years, Europeans have used milk thistle seeds for treatment of liver disorders.  One of the first documented references was made by Pliny the Elder (A.D. 23-79), a Roman Physician who wrote, “The juice of the plant, mixed with honey is excellent for carrying off bile.”  By the Middles Ages, according to the National Cancer Institute, milk thistle was used extensively as a popular antidote for the liver. Milk thistle (silymarin) is a flowering herb that is native to the Mediterranean region. It has been used for thousands of years as a remedy for a variety of ai...

Do you worry about things over which you have no control?  Perhaps you think that if you “worry enough”, you can prevent bad things from happening.  Unfortunately, worry, if left to run rampant, can lead to anxiety and physical illness. Many parents lay awake waiting for their children to come home at night — fortunately for most of us, they came home without incident. You may be waiting for lab results from the doctor and potentially worrying about a disease you may not have. Hopefully, if you have been reading these articles for a while, you have taken some preventative action but there are still no guarantees. The uncertainty of life is a neutral ground, but many worriers equate uncertainty with bad outcomes. If uncertainty were to create optimistic thoughts of what could be (with a positive twist), we could retrain ourselves and prevent wasting time in a negative place. But how can you change and control these thoughts? It is through conscious choice and ...

The purpose of this article is to shed some new light on dealing and treating cancer. Statistically, one out of three people will be diagnosed with cancer during the course of their lives. The cancers of today are much more potent as we are far more toxic and nutritionally at risk. Preservatives, chemicals, artificial sweeteners and overly processed foods fill our bodies with empty calories that ultimately lead to our illness and demise. Very little has changed in conventional cancer treatment over the past 50 years. Chemotherapy and radiation do very little for most solid tumors of the lung, liver uterus, pancreas, ovaries and breast especially if there has been metastasis (spreading) to other areas. Chemotherapy has not proven to be much more effective today than it was thirty years ago. Yes, some cancers do respond, but all in all there has been limited progress in the successful treatment of cancer. I have always believed that if I were to develop cancer, I would ...

Those who desire to look younger than their chronological age should eat 75 percent raw foods and they will be well on their way. Unfortunately, Americans, in general, do not eat the required five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables necessary to protect health and slow the aging process. For every four servings of vegetables there should be one serving of fruit. Eating raw is another area where we are lacking. It only makes sense that living foods are essential for a vibrant life. For those who desire the benefits of more raw and living foods but cannot see themselves eating this quantity, juicing is a healthy alternative. For busy people, just a little preparation will make this easy and time efficient. Another reason to consider juicing; Juices are the best form of supplements available. Not only do they contain whole food vitamins and minerals, they also contain enzymes and oxygen. Many of you are still taking synthetic multivitamins that serve little or no b...

Sugar is one of the major reasons Americans are getting fatter and fatter. Each year, the average American drinks 52.4 gallons of soda, which equates to 52 pounds of sugar — and that’s just from soda. These numbers are actually higher when you factor in infants and people who do not consume soda. For those who are still consuming drinks with artificial sweeteners, it is old news that you will struggle in your weight loss efforts as well. Many people say they just can’t drink water — they don’t like it. These flavor (chemical) addicted people are depriving their bodies of the majority of what they are made up of. The human body is 70 percent water, not Pepsi or diet iced tea.  I pity the poor kidneys of individuals that drink very little water. For those who are trying to become a healthier specimen, I may have an option as you transition from a soda swiller to a water lover. Coconut water is a viable option that is readily available to almost everyone. For young c...

Few individuals realize that an unfriendly bacteria is the cause of stomach ulcers for 9 out of 10 people.  According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 60% of the population believes ulcers are caused by stress and 17% thought that spicy foods are the cause. The true cause is Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Pernicious anemia is a very serious disorder which results from a deficiency in B-12.  A study reported in an Internal Medicine Journal reported that H. pylori were present in 56% of 138 patients with pernicious anemia.  Once treated, 40% of the infected patients improved their B-12 levels. Unfortunately most individuals self treat the symptoms by taking products like Zantac and Tagamet.  This might help the individual feel better but if they were to eliminate the H. pylori bacteria, there is a greater than 90% chance that the ulcer can be cured for good, and possibly help to prevent cardiac complications and some forms of ca...